Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will tangle in 2022 and 2023

Ohio State defender Mike Kudla (57) reacts after Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn (10) was sacked at the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. That was the last meeting between the two schools, who announced Thursday they will play a home-and-home series in Columbus in 2022 and South Bend in 2023.(Photo: AP Photo)

COLUMBUS – The two most powerful football programs in the Midwest will renew their all-too-scarce rivalry in 2022 and 2023.

Ohio State and Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series on Thursday, not coincidentally the same week the Fighting Irish-Michigan rivalry concludes. Now Irish eyes will turn toward Columbus.

"We are extremely pleased to have this series with Notre Dame scheduled," said Martin Jarmond, OSU's executive associate athletic director. "Notre Dame adds to the prestigious series of nonconference games we have been seeking to schedule that are competitive, attractive for our fans and exciting for our student-athletes to be a part."

The Buckeyes, with seven national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and 850 victories are in their 125th season of football. The Fighting Irish, owner of 11 national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners and 875 victories rank among the most prestigious programs in the nation.

The two schools will kick off the 2022 season in Columbus on Sept 3. The return game in South Bend will take place Sept. 23, 2023.

The Buckeyes lead the series 3-2, winning three straight. OSU claimed the rubber match 34-20 at the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

It was wildly popular, at least in central Ohio, when the Buckeyes and ND squared off for a home-and-home series in 1995 and 1996. Of course OSU fans were happy, Ohio State pounded the Fighting Irish both times, 45-26 in Columbus and 29-16 in South Bend.

Notre Dame won the first two matchups, rallying for a miraculous, 18-13 win in 1935 that was immediately dubbed "The Game of the Century." Notre Dame claimed the rematch 7-2 in South Bend the following year.

Ohio State's nonconference schedule looms as imposing as any in the nation over the next 10 years. The Buckeyes play a home-and-home with Oklahoma (away in 2016, home in 2017), TCU (away in 2018, home in 2019), Oregon (away in 2020, home in 2021), Texas (away in 2022, home in 2023), and Boston College (home in 2023, home in 2024).